Specifically hooked to appliance 4 and 6 cylinder engines?
As you may know, I'm looking for an appliance and due to me really wanting my wife to feel comfortable taking it in an emergency, an auto might (sniffle-sniffle) be in the cards.
In my research, I swear I cannot find an auto that doesn't have DOZENS of failure complaints on every forum or website I search.
Wife thinks I'm just allergic to autos (and she's right) BUT I still think I'm right too.
You need to sort out how many of those people logging complaints were driving their AT trans cars like they stole them for 150k miles without even checking the fluid first.
i've never had issues with an automatic car.
My brother however does but he drives like an idiot, neutral drops, putting it in drive when he has reverse momentum, etc.
GM TH125 is pretty stout.
Toyota, Honda, Kia, VW, and the Americans...
All decent transmissions? I've been ASCARED of them or maybe just trying to avoid getting one?
Don't think any of them suck a big one, they just suck. Plus it depends on the end the wheels are driving.
4T40 and 4T60 are pretty much bulletproof. The only 4T60s that I've had to pull out had bizarre failures and were in minivans with trailer hitches on them.
4T40s were in Cavalier/Cobalt/Sunfire as well as some (not all) midsizes - the Malibu/Grand Am/G6/Alero. Everything else that wasn't a V8 had the 4T60.
I guess it can be distilled down to "Hydramatic still knows their E36 M3 when it comes to transmissions." This also goes for the Hydramatics in BMWs if you bother to change the fluid instead of the European "Fluid change is waste of resources! More environmentally friendly to throw the car away at 100k" methodology.
Really the only non abuse related GM trans issue that I can think of is 4L60s bypassing the trans cooler when in 4th gear. But even that is mainly a problem with doofuses towing in OD like you're not supposed to.
kanaric wrote: i've never had issues with an automatic car. My brother however does but he drives like an idiot, neutral drops, putting it in drive when he has reverse momentum, etc.
Agreed. I have relatives with transmission trouble in every car they own. I don't know how, but it might have something to do with driving style/maintenance.
pseudo-scientific example- my parents got an econoline in the late 80's. 5.0, auto w/ overdrive. So did a number of my relatives. 2 of them were used to tow campers that far exceeded the tow rating of the vans. I mean like triple. My van even had engine modifications which significantly raised the power from "jack e36 m3" to "not terrible". After this, the transmission couldn't handle full throttle in 1st gear towing the trailer, so we stopped doing that and waiting for 2nd to put the hammer down. This went on for years. One is currently 27 years old and I still drive it. No transmission problems, still shifts as smoothly as it ever has. The other one died years ago of transmission problems, was parked in a field, and rusted into oblivion.
What's the difference? Both econoline 150's, both same engine/tranny. Probably that I've never done a neutral drop, the fluid has been changed when needed, and I don't beat on it like it's a race car because, you know, it's a van (although it has won a van race against the other van in question (as well as a caravan, same race)). Even after too much power/weight, no problems.
Only on my first automatic transmission, which I like for in town driving. But, my wife drove a round trip of 60 miles a day for 36 years with various Ford and Buick automatics and never had a problem with any of them. They were serviced according to the owners manual in all cases.
My 1994 Alfa 164 has a 4-speed ZF slusher that still shifts very smoothly even after 20 years and 207K miles. Credit some very sympathetic past owners who changed the ATF every 30K-60K with good quality fluid. I just filled it with Amsoil ATF so it should last a good long while.
That doesn't mean I don't want to do a manual swap in the future, but with a car as rare as a 164 I'll take what I can get for now.
I dont get the "anymore" thing. They're all better now than they have been at any point previous. Unless you're going by "how hard is it to rebuild them", which you probably aren't.
Approaching 1/4 million miles on the original AW50-42 in my Volvo.
I'm a believer in TH-350 and 400's and TF-727 etc. I'm more concerned with the small engines' transmissions.
Our 97 Avalon has 211k on it now and has never received any preferential treatment. Still shifts quite smoothly.
ebonyandivory wrote: In my research, I swear I cannot find an auto that doesn't have DOZENS of failure complaints on every forum or website I search.
They sell millions upon millions of them. The internet is amplifying DOZENS because not even HUNDREDS go on to forums and rave about how non-problematic their automatic transmission has been.
If you were playing russian roulette with 12:1000000 odds I'd say you are pretty safe pulling the trigger.
The only automatics I have heard of dying in the last 20 years are ones with no cooler or never taken care of. Check and make sure the car you buy has a decent cooler.
exactly.. millions of cars get sold each year.. 99% of them with automatics.. and you are worried about a few dozen bad reviews by people who never did the maintenance or who badly abused them?
My malibu has 218k miles on it with nothing but a fluid change around the 125k mark.
In reply to Vigo:
I admit that I take the internet complaints too seriously. I'm guilty of forgetting that there may be 1,000x more owners that never take the time to write how great their transmissions are.
Knurled wrote: 4T40 and 4T60 are pretty much bulletproof. The only 4T60s that I've had to pull out had bizarre failures and were in minivans with trailer hitches on them. 4T40s were in Cavalier/Cobalt/Sunfire as well as some (not all) midsizes - the Malibu/Grand Am/G6/Alero. Everything else that wasn't a V8 had the 4T60. I guess it can be distilled down to "Hydramatic still knows their E36 M3 when it comes to transmissions." This also goes for the Hydramatics in BMWs if you bother to change the fluid instead of the European "Fluid change is waste of resources! More environmentally friendly to throw the car away at 100k" methodology. Really the only non abuse related GM trans issue that I can think of is 4L60s bypassing the trans cooler when in 4th gear. But even that is mainly a problem with doofuses towing in OD like you're not supposed to.
Volvo uses the Hydramatic ???4T65??? in the AWD XC90, and they tend to kill the diff planetary not long after 100,000 miles. Its mostly due to the diffs lubrication tube slipping out of place,I think.
I've only had one slushbox transmission go bad on me or any family members. A 1992 pathfinder with 150k on it some years ago. Now, if you are talking Modern CVT and dual clutch auto trannies, then I agree with you. My friends Murano crapped a CVT after 15k miles (covered under warranty) and I have heard bad thing about the tranny in the new focus (dual clutch auto I believe?). I am looking for a vehicle with a traditional six speed auto to ensure reliability.
My malibu has 160k miles and 250+ laps at Vir and is still doing fine. * knocks on wood*
My former Duratec Sable is still on its original ax4n trans at a bit over 250k now......I used an sct tuner to bump the line pressure way up. 1-2 2-3 shifts were violent, but that trans has already lived 2x the norm for them......most die(with maintenance) between 100-125k.
Everyone should run out right now and replace the subframe, and possibly weld in huge amounts of steel reinforcemet to your E36 rear suspension mount points. Afterall... World Challenge cars needed this and what are the odds you won't on your trip to the mall?
Quoting Sweet jesus analizing himself with a lawn dart with the assistance of two really beautiful men... "I got a 100 problems but a auto tranny ain't one."
I've never had luck with auto transmissions. They all blow up far too soon.
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